Forbidden Paths

by Belden, P. J.

  Tonight. 8 p.m. Harper Mansion.

  Checking my watch, I have a few hours before that time. Taking a deep breath, I stand to go inside to start some clean up. Just as I reach my door, I hear a car pull into the driveway. Turning I watch as two guys exit the car. Now would be the time I wish I had paid attention to Levi’s men. I’m not sure if this is Tack and Sonny or if I should be on guard.

  “Logan, man, long time no see.”

  Thank God, it’s Levi’s guys.

  “Yeah long time,” I agree as I slap hug both of them.

  “Hey, it was a long drive. Want to go get some grub and catch up?” One of them says.

  “Sure, let me…” I look back at the front door on my house, “Never mind. Let’s go.”

  We head down the steps and to their car. Climbing in the back seat, I wait until we are started down the drive before I say anything.

  “Okay which one of you is which?”

  They exchange a look that pushes the panic button on my nerves. My breathing increases as the car turn left heading more toward the outskirts of town instead of right toward all the restaurants.

  “Oh fuck,” I breathe right before a searing pain shoots through my head and I black out.

  # # #

  Faith

  “No, you have to listen to me. This is wrong very wrong. Please. He’s going to be hurt because of me. They aren’t going to give up,” I plead with the guys.

  “We promised him we’d keep you safe. How is taking you back there keeping you safe?”

  “So you’re telling me that I’m more important than your brother?”

  They all open their mouth to object, but nothing came out. Each of them looks at each other at a loss for words.

  “Well, I can tell you that he’s more important to me than he seems to be to you guys. If you don’t want to help me, that’s fine. But I’m not letting my kids lose their father and I’m not losing the love of my life without a fight!”

  Clambering to my feet, I start to head down the stairs. There’s no way this man is going to ruin anything anymore. If I can’t have their help then I’ll do it myself. Grabbing my purse and keys, I fling open the front door and storm off the porch.

  “Fay, wait!” Lia runs up next to me. “I’m helping.”

  Soon all the girls were with me walking to get a car. We all stop next to the car and look at each other.

  “How are we getting out of here?” Bleu asks the obvious question.

  “By calling a plane and having it ready for everyone,” Levi states from behind us.

  “And by the time we all get there, the plane will be ready,” Leif says standing next to Levi as the rest of the men stood alongside.

  Running over, I throw my arms around Levi. “Thank you so much!”

  # # #

  “Oh my God!” I turn and look at one of the guys, trying desperately to keep from crying.

  I couldn’t stay in the house anymore. Walking out onto the porch, I place my hands on the rail. My stomach was turning and I thought I was going to be sick. When I pushed my hips out, I saw the envelope and piece of paper on the floor.

  Bending down, I grab the paper off the floor and open it.

  Tonight. 8 p.m. Harper Mansion.

  “Where were you’re guys, Levi? Where were they at when…” I trail off and look up at Levi with wide eyes. “They were a part of this, weren’t they?” I breathe.

  He looks down and shakes his head. “I don’t know,” he says sadly.

  Pulling out my cell phone, I dial the police. “Yes, I need to speak to, umm, Detective, uh, crap I can’t remember his name.” Quickly racking my brain from when I was beat almost to death, it finally came to me. “Detective Rokes, please. I need to speak with Detective Rokes.”

  “Certainly, I’m transferring you now.”

  “Detective Rokes,” comes the clipped voice I remember.

  “Detective Rokes, I’m not sure you remember me, but my name is Faith Harper. You…” He cuts me off.

  “Ms. Harper, I remember you. How can I help you today?”

  His voice seems to soften. Shaking my head, I get back on topic. “I want to press charges. There’s more than that now though. Can you meet me out at my boyfriend’s house? I’ll explain it all there.”

  “Sure where am I going?”

  I rattle off the address and hang up. Pacing the porch, my stomach starts to tighten. Ignoring it, I try to get my thoughts under control.

  “You should sit down, Faith,” Lia says softly.

  “I’m not sitting down,” I snap. “Logan is having God knows what done to him. You all may be able to relax at that thought, but I can’t.”

  “Now wait a second! That’s my brother we’re talking about,” Levi interjects.

  “Yeah, the same brother you didn’t want to leave to come and make sure he was okay,” I hiss.

  “Hey now,” Levi says defensively. “I get you’re worried, so am I, but that’s no excuse for attacking me. It’s not going to solve our problem.”

  Just then the crunching of gravel breaks into our argument and draws our attention to the approaching vehicle. Holding my breath, I wait for whoever it is to get out of the car. Levi and Leif move in front of me and for a brief moment my heart warms. They were still protecting me even after what I said.

  No longer able to see anything, I hear a door open and close. The silence was killing. Of course, the stiff as board men standing in front of me didn’t help my anxiety either.

  “I’m looking for Ms. Harper,” a deep, gravelly voice says.

  “Who’s asking?” Levi asks crossing his arms across his chest.

  “Marshall Rokes. She called and asked me to visit while she was in town,” he states confidently.

  At first I was confused, but quickly it dawned on me that he wasn’t sure that he should say why he was there. Stepping out from behind the guys, I reach out my hand.

  “Hi, Detective Rokes. They know I called you.”

  He nods his head. “Why did you call me?”

  “I ran away from home a while ago, but then he threatened my boyfriend and friends so we took off to hide away. Well, somehow, my boyfriend believed that he’d meet him to end all this shit and now he’s missing.”

  He drops his head and shakes it. Detective Rokes was easy on the eyes. He had to be just a little bit older than me. With blonde hair that hung just above his ears, it made his hazel eyes just pop. And what the hell are these men fed? This guy was huge as well. I feel like such a midget around all of them.

  “Ma’am, I’m sorry to break this to you, but if Tony does indeed have your boyfriend the chances of finding him is slim to…”

  “I know where he is,” I blurt out unable to hear him finish his sentence.

  “How do you know?”

  “Because of this,” I hand him the note. “Before you say anything, it was never meant for Logan. It was meant for me. He knew I’d come for Logan,” I say softly.

  “Shit,” unanimously sounds throughout everyone standing on the porch.

  Another pain tightens across my stomach. Gritting my teeth to keep from bending over with the pain. God, please not now.

  “Faith, are you okay?” Lia asks concerned.

  “I’m fine. I just want Logan,” I snap unintentionally.

  Lia walks over and wraps her arms around me. “We’ll find him sweetie.”

  After a moment, I pull back and I look at Rokes. “He’s at Harper Mansion. I can get in and out of the house like nobody else. My grandfather told me of some secret passages and I used them a few times when me and Logan first met. My guess is Logan will be kept somewhere that he thinks I won’t see. Let me think a moment,” I say as another pain takes over.

  Holding my back, I walk away from everyone and try to think of what to do and hopefully to get the pain to pass. It was starting to freak me out a bit. The books say I’ll have growing pains, but would they be like this? I just don’t know.

  “Ms. Harper?” Rokes asks.


  Turning around, I face him. “Please call me Faith, Detective Rokes.”

  “Then you call me Marshall,” he gives me a small smile. “I’ll do whatever I can to get him back safely. But I need you to trust me. There’s not many people you can trust. The D’luca’s have many people in their pockets.”

  Nodding my head, “Yeah I think the guys that Levi had sent to protect Logan were working with them.”

  “Levi was just explaining that whole thing. He feels like it’s all his fault.”

  “How would he have known,” I ask looking over at Levi. For the first time seeing the stress and sadness clouding his masculine features.

  “Nobody could have, but that doesn’t stop guilt from eating him,” he pauses. “And you.”

  My head snaps back in his direction. “If I would have stayed away, he’d be going about his days like normal, not having God knows what done to him by a psycho,” I admit after a moment of shock.

  “Let’s focus on solutions and not guilt, okay?”

  Nodding my head, we head back over to the others and start trying to figure out how to get Logan back without anything happening to anyone. Nausea was trying to take over, but I couldn’t let it. Not right now. I needed to focus to get Logan out safely.

  “I’ll go in the secret entrance,” I volunteer.

  “No!” Everyone shouts in unison.

  Putting my hands on my hips, I glare at each of them. “I know that house better than anyone here. I can get in and out of there without a problem. You can focus on getting in and arresting the fucker so I don’t have to worry about him anymore. I’m not backing down. This is because of me. I’m going to solve this shit too.”

  After a long heated discussion, they finally concede to allow me to find Logan. We have only an hour before I’m supposed to be at the house. So, I’m heading out now, while Lia is going to portray me. She’s the closet one that looks like me.

  With my stomach a ball of nerves, I head off to attempt to rescue my love. God please help me.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Leif

  My heart sank in my chest the moment Lia opened her mouth to offer to portray Faith. Not only now are my brother and his girlfriend in danger, but now the only woman I’ve ever loved is too. How can I stop this?

  “Lia, are you sure you want to do this?” I ask cautiously.

  “Leif please don’t start,” she says as she rustles around in Faith’s closet.

  The whole ride over to Lia’s house, I’ve tried to figure out what I can say to her to get her to back off. But I came up with nothing. Other than opening up my heart to her and risk losing her all together. I don’t think I could handle only getting updates on her.

  “I’ve got to worry about Logan and Faith. Please if something happens to you, it’d kill me,” my heart beating rapidly as I admit a piece of the truth.

  She stops rummaging through Faith’s closet and turns to look at me. “Leif, I’m going to be fine. The police are going to be there. Besides it’s better than Faith going in there and getting herself or the kids hurt.”

  Sighing, “I know, but if something happens to you…” I cup her face in my hands and act without thinking.

  Leaning in, I brush my lips against hers. The air left my lungs at the almost electrical current that passes between us in such a simple kiss. Pushing all thoughts aside, I go all in and kiss her the way I’ve been longing to for a long, long time.

  A moan fills the room. Lia brings her arms up and around my neck piercing her fingers into my hair. Dropping my hands from her face, I wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her closer to me.

  For the first time, I don’t want to rush into anything. I want to cherish her, every inch of her. The kiss deepens as I slowly move her to the bed, gently laying her on the bed and covering her with my body. My hands move eagerly over her body, wanting to feel and memorize every inch of her beneath them.

  Our tongues dance around each other, drawing her taste into my mouth like a starving man. My hips push against her. Reaching the hem of her shirt, I slowly begin to pull it over her head, making sure I caress each inch of bare skin I reveal.

  Breaking our kiss just long enough to pull her shirt off, I devour her mouth once more. In what seems like a blink of an eye all our clothes are off and I’m pushing into Lia for the first time.

  Moaning, I break the kiss, running my lips down her neck. “I’ve been waiting for this for so long.”

  Lia moans and pulls me back to her mouth. All words and thoughts left that moment. It was only feelings. The feel of her wrapped around me like no one ever has. My movements are slow and deep. This moment, this special moment, is one I want to remember forever. Lia deserves nothing more than to be cherished, honored, worshipped and I intend to do just that.

  After a while, I could feel myself starting to build. Getting ever closer, the more Lia tightened around me. My thrusts pick up and sooner I want, we are both falling over the edge together.

  “Lia!”

  “Leif!”

  Collapsing down on top of her, I bury my face in her neck and breathe deeply. This finally happened. The smile will not leave my face. In my whole life, this is the most satisfied I’ve ever been. Pulling back, I cup her face in my hands smiling at her.

  “That was incredible. Do you know how long I’ve…” Lia cut me off by throwing me off her and rushing out of the bed.

  “Shit! I’m going to be late. I still have no idea what to wear.”

  “Wear jeans and a t-shirt, pull your hair up into a bun. It’s the only way he’s seen her, right?”

  Quickly, she gets dressed in Faith’s clothes while I redress in my own. We run out to the car and drive out to the meeting spot. She exits the car quickly and starts to walk away when I grab her.

  “Please be careful. My heart couldn’t handle losing you,” I say softly before kissing her completely.

  Smiling when we broke the kiss, she just nods her head and runs off. The stupid smile was still on my face. Finally, I was getting what I’ve always dreamed about.

  “What could you possibly have to smile about right now?” Levi asks as I walk over to our meeting spot.

  “Lia and I are finally together.”

  “Wow! Man, I’m happy for you. You’ve been in love with her for a long time. Never thought you’d take the leap,” he says honestly.

  “Me either, but the thought of losing her without her knowing…” I shrug.

  “I’m happy for you,” he says one last time before we get back to the task at hand.

  # # #

  Faith

  Taking a deep breath, I say a silent prayer before I make my way around the dark woods to the secret entrance. A brief pause before, I open the door slowly and carefully. Creeping inside, I carefully close the door behind me. It was dark in the tunnel. A burst of light every so often through small, very small, windows, giving me the only light to make sure I make it through this tunnel safely.

  It seems like forever before I reach the next door the separates me from the house. Carefully, I push open the door and quickly close it behind me. Walking through several hallways, past several closed doors, I peek in the first one that is open. My heart breaks.

  There Logan sat chained to a chair with his head hanging down, not moving. Oh God, please don’t let me be too late. Looking around the rest of the room, I see no one else in the room. Slowly and quietly, I move into the room, keeping very aware of my surroundings. Finally reaching him, I kneel down in front of him and gently touch his face.

  His head jerks up. There’re cuts on his face and it’s swollen. Tears immediately spring to my eyes, blurring my vision.

  “Baby, what are you doing here?”

  “Like I was going to sit back and let you die because of me. We came here to rescue you. Come on we don’t have much time left.”

  Moving behind him I undo his cuffs with the key that Marshall had given me, then his feet. Soon he was free from his chains and stands, pulls me i
nto his arms holding me tightly. We hold each other briefly before leaving.

  “What do you mean, we?” He whispers.

  “All of us are here. We all took a flight out to rescue you when I got your note. It took a bit of convincing for the guys to break their promise to you.”

  When we reach the secret entrance, we enter quietly. Once the door shuts behind us, safely locking us away from the rest of the house, Logan pulls me into his arms and holds me tightly to his chest.

  “Come on, Lia is pretending to be me. Once they realize you’re gone they’ll hurt her. I don’t want that,” I say as I pull away from his comfort and warmth.

  “Okay, let’s hurry.”

  We hurry through the tunnel, out and around to where the guys are. Levi and Leif immediately pull Logan into a hug. Something in my gut told me that there’s something wrong. So without saying a word to the guys, I snuck off to the house. Lia would not be hurt because of me.

  When I reach the door, I peer in the side window and see Lia pinned to the wall as a man paws at her. This isn’t happening.

  Without another thought, I burst through the door. “Leave her alone you asshole,” I roar, my voice echoing through the entry way, pulling the gun from my pocket.

  “Faith, no,” Lia chokes out.

  “I knew you’d show up eventually,” Tony says as he steps out into the entry way.

  “Let her go or I’ll shoot,” I hiss far more steadily than I feel.

  My heart is racing a million miles an hour. It’s a conscious effort to keep my hand from shaking, but somehow I manage it. If it wasn’t such an intense moment, I’d smile at my ability to keep my nerves hidden.

  “I’ll let her go,” Tony says calmly. “But you have to stay. We have a lot to catch up on you and I,” he smiles, but it’s more of a sneer.

  “Fine, but she goes free.”

  Tony nods his head to the guy that still held her against the wall. Lia scurries over to me, tears streaming down her face.